Hello fellow bloggers,

I can’t believe that this will be my final blog! I am not going to lie when I say that I will be very glad to see the back of this semester, it has certainly been my most challenging one yet and I just pray that my third year will not be as hectic, however, I doubt that this will be the case.

I really can’t believe that we are nearly at the end of 2021, I am not sure where the time has gone but I am very much looking forward to spending some quality time with my children who I seem to have neglected during this semester ☹ I keep telling myself it is only for a short time and it is for them that I am doing this.

Individual reflection

1. Please share your story as an LSKM 221 student by comparing your knowledge, skills, experiences, abilities and attitude towards music education from the start of the semester to the end of the semester.

When I first started this module I was a bit apprehensive, as much as I enjoy music and the arts I had no idea where to even start. Taking a a music lesson seemed impossible and I wasn’t sure of how to incorporate music into the classroom, let alone integrating it into different subjects! However, as the weeks went by I learnt each study unit this all became a lot more clearer to me. I can truly say that if I had to take a music lesson I would feel quite comfortable to do this as the knowledge and skills that I have acquired has certainly built my confidence in this subject.

2. What was your experience of the role of individual reflection as part of the teaching and learning process? Use the following prompts to reflect on your blogging experience and the role that individual reflection played (or not) in your teaching and learning experience this semester:

• What did you learn from your individual reflections?

I have enjoyed doing the individual reflections as this has allowed me to reflect on each study unit as it has finished. I must be honest and say that I have not had an opportunity to read over each of my reflections again but it is nice to know that they are there if I ever want to see them. In terms of learning something specific I am a deep thinker and I feel as if I am constantly reflecting on everything that I do.

• What did you find challenging?

I must say that I found the group assignment most challenging. I really don’t mind working in a group as I know that it is part and parcel of the job one day, but when you are spread all over the place and have to pull something together not being face to face is really difficult. As a student we are all under pressure but some people don’t prioritise like you would if it was your own individual assignment and when communication is not consistent it makes things that much harder.

• Did you find the individual reflections meaningful? Please motivate your answer.

I think the individual reflections were nice to put into a summary of how your week went and what we had learnt from that specific study unit, however, as I am someone who reflects and over thinks everything all the time my reflections were just my thoughts in black and white.

• What would you change if you had the opportunity in future?

I don’t think the reflections are all that necessary but should be optional so that it can act as a reference for those who like to write their thoughts and reflections down.

3. Please share what you would change in the LSKM221 module if you had the opportunity. The following prompts can guide your reflection:

• What did you find interesting and meaningful?

I found the whole module meaningful, as I said in the very beginning of my blogs, this is all very new to me and besides the fact that I love music and the arts knowing how to teach it and incorporate it into the classroom is a whole other level on its own. I really think that there was a lot of useful information in this module that I will certainly use when I am a teacher one day. Who know’s maybe I will ask to take a music lesson at the school that I am working at and put my learning into practice.

• What challenged you, and what do you still struggle to understand?

Learning through music, in music, with music etc. is something that I am going to have to wrap my head around a bit more. It might seem easy but I need to keep these at the forefront of my mind when trying to incorporate music in different ways into the classroom and into my lessons. The more I think about these the more I will understand how these can be done.

• What didn’t you find valuable for your future teaching practice?

I found everything valuable in the module as this has been the most exposure that I have had to music and the arts, other than when I was a student at school myself.

I just wanted to say a very big thank you to Mrs Francis for helping us this year. Being a distance student can be really tough and you feel like you are on your own most of the time but it is refreshing when you have a lecturer who cares so much about the well being of her students and communicates so effectively. Thank you every so much, your efforts have not gone unnoticed.